HTC One mini

HTC took to Twitter today to tout the pending arrival of Sense 6.0 for the AT&T variant of the One mini. The update makes changes to the camera app, Blinkfeed, and various other functions. More specifics weren't provided.

AT&T today said the Android 4.4 KitKat update is now available for the HTC One mini. The update can be downloaded and installed via Wi-Fi. In addition to the system update, the revised operating system adds Sense 5.5. Some of the improvements include: new user interface for the email app; lock screen access to the camera application; immersive viewing mode for media such as books, videos, and games; new clock interface; and more options for BlinkFeed. Android 4.4 KitKat with Sense 5.5 is free to download an install.

HTC Americas today announced HTC Advantage, a new commitment to its U.S. customers that includes repairs and operating system updates. Under the terms of the program, HTC will offer a one-time free screen replacement to all One series devices sold after February 18, including the One, One mini, and the One max, during the first six months of ownership. The repairs will be performed in Houston. Further, the company is committing to provide all One series devices core system level updates for a period of two years after the initial launch date for each device. Timing of updates will vary depending on carrier, but HTC will deliver them as soon as it is able. HTC Advantage also offers customers free online storage for back-ups. Owners of One series phones will enjoy 25GB of Google Drive storage at no extra cost for a period of two years. Last, HTC is offering free backups through its own HTC Backup program. HTC Advantage is only available in the U.S.

HTC today said that it plans to update the HTC One to the latest version of Android in the months ahead. "We're all excited about Google's Halloween treat and plan on breaking off a piece of that KitKat bar for the HTC One. In North America, we'll deliver Android 4.4 with Sense 5.5 for the HTC One within 90 days, and the HTC One max and the HTC One mini will follow." Google plans to update the HTC One Google Play Edition to Android 4.4 KitKat in the next few weeks.

HTC today introduced the One mini, a smaller version of its flagship smartphone that offers many of the same high-end features with only a handful of trade-offs. The One mini sports an aluminum design that's similar to the full-sized One, but it reduces the size of the screen from 4.7 inches to 4.3 inches, and from 1080p HD resolution to 720p HD. The mini offers the same UltraPixel camera with backside illumination, Zoes, and dedicated ImageChip that are found on the One, though it loses optical image stabilization. The One mini has a 1.6-megapixel user-facing camera that can capture 720p HD video. As with its larger brother, the mini has a sealed battery, but it has been reduced to 1800mAh in order to fit into the smaller footprint. The mini has no microSD card slot, but it comes with 16GB of storage built in. The mini is powered by a 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 series processor, which is paired with 1GB of RAM. Connectivity includes 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, DLNA, and GPS, but there's no NFC. It runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and the same version of Sense 5 and Blinkfeed found on the One, and also has stereo BoomSound speakers. The One mini supports various HSPA+ and LTE bands, and is scheduled to reach world markets later this quarter.

The HTC One mini is just what it sounds like: a shrunken version of HTC’s well-regarded flagship One. The mini is smaller in both stature and cost. As with Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 Mini, a smaller, cheaper phone requires compromises in some areas. But HTC took a slightly different tack, keeping some of the best features of the One intact in the mini version. We spent some time with the mini, comparing it with the competition. Read on for our first impressions.